What To Do And Where To Drink This Weekend

In many offices, summer Friday schedules are in full swing, and the afternoons-off perk frees up more time to enjoy your own city. Forget running errands and make the most of the break by sipping cocktails at rooftop bars and taking in city sights without the weekend crowds. Forbes Travel Guide came up with half-day itineraries for summer Fridays across the country—including what to do and where to dine and drink.

Do: After a morning of work, spend the day exploring New York’s hippest borough, Brooklyn. Board the Brooklyn Ferry and take in views of the Manhattan skyline before heading to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—on Fridays, one $20 ticket will get you into the garden and the Brooklyn Museum. Walk through the quiet 52-acre urban garden, where the popular Cranford Rose Garden has one of the largest collections of rosebushes in North America. Cool down next door in the art museum, where an exhibit of works by social activist and street artist Keith Haring is on display until July 8.

Dine: The River Café sits tucked under the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Take in views of the Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty while tucking into dishes such as the crisp duck breast served with white truffle honey, fennel pollen glaze and a duck leg and potato croquette.

Drink: Head to Williamsburg’s Juliette for a nightcap. The terrace is perfect for people watching with tasty cocktails in hand—try the summer-appropriate Tonique Concombre, made with Hendrick’s gin, cucumber, lime and tonic.

Chicago

Do: Get out of the Loop and see the city from a more peaceful perspective—Chicago’s Promontory Point Park juts out into Lake Michigan, providing great views of downtown. Bring a picnic and a blanket and find a shady spot to while away your afternoon.

Dine: Treat yourself to an early dinner at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Tru. The progressive French cuisine is offered in a three-course prix fixe menu or six- or nine-course tasting menus. Don’t miss the caviar presentation—sturgeon caviars are presented on a dramatic red coral serving piece.

Do: The nine-to-five grind means you probably miss L.A.’s great weekday farmers markets, so head from the office to Bank of America Plaza’s downtown market to get first dibs at the freshest produce, local meats and handmade cheeses.

Dine: Drop off your market finds at home and make your way to the Five-Star Montage Beverly Hills’ Italian restaurant, Scarpetta. This Four-Star restaurant serves up authentic Italian with homemade pastas and a list of by-the-glass Italian wines. The outdoor patio overlooking an open-to-the-public courtyard park is a lively Beverly Hills scene. Try the braised short ribs—the tender cut is served alongside vegetables and farro risotto.

Drink: West Hollywood tequila bar Tortilla Republic opened in March and boasts a long drink list that includes blancos, reposados, anejos and reservas. The hotspot opens at noon with a DJ, Mexican bar snacks and nine house margaritas.

Austin

Do: Escape the heat by diving in to the three-acre Barton Springs Pool. The spring-fed limestone pool is located on the grounds of the massive Zilker Park and is much less busy on weekdays. After your dip, head to the Four-Star Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Austin for an express treatment like the 30-minute essential foot therapy.

Dine: South Austin staple Barley Swine serves upscale barbecue and beer created by the chef behind the Odd Duck Farm and Trailer food trucks. Order plates to share such as the crispy pig tails with spicy pickles or the chicken fried liver with hardboiled egg, spaetzle, pickled onion and anchovy.

Drink: After dinner, head to the epicenter of Austin’s hip food truck scene—South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery—to grab a rich frozen hot chocolate with a cayenne kick at Holy Cacao dessert trailer.

Seattle

Dine: Make a reservation for the Fridays-only lunch service at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Rover’s. The restaurant serves refined regional cuisine—certainly worthy of kicking off the weekend—in a converted house off a private courtyard in the Madison Park neighborhood.

Do: After lunch, drive north to Anacortes, Wash., where you’ll join a whale watching boat tour. Island Adventures leads daily tours of the San Juan Islands with guaranteed whale sightings. Bring your camera—summer is the ideal time to spot an Orca whale, and you’ll likely also see harbor seals, sea lions and porpoises.

Drink: Back on dry land, head to Shuckers, one of Seattle’s classic oyster bars, located at the Four-Star Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Order a local microbrew and a half dozen of their 13 different types of oysters to end your night. —By Morgan Lord